Body Shop

How To Choose A Body Shop By Zach Bowman Odds are you're going to get into a fender bender and need some automotive body work done at least once in your vehicle's life. Colliding with another car or hitting an immobile object is never a pleasant experience, but taking your time and doing a little research when it happens can ensure that the repair process is as painless and, most of all, as least expensive as possible.

If you're able to drive your car home from the accident (after talking to the police), park it and take a breath. You'll want to get the vehicle's damage repaired as soon as possible, but rushing into an unknown shop is the last thing you want to do.

Our advice is to check DriverSide 's " Service You Car " section to your left. In it, you'll find ratings and reviews of local auto shops - a perfect way to make sure you're getting a quality mechanic to look at your vehicle. There's nothing worse than cold-calling and hoping you'll end up at a place that knows what it is doing.

Once you find one that looks promising, give them a call and ask questions like how long they've been in business, how experienced their team is, if they guarantee their work and whether they use stock replacement or aftermarket parts.

A better indication is the type of work they do, so if you've got the time, ask to come by and see some of their finished products. If they're leery of you poking around, it might be a sign to take your business elsewhere.

The shop should be willing to put you in touch with someone whose vehicle they've worked on in the past. When you get to speak to someone, ask if they were kept up to date on any delays, if they were satisfied with the work and if all of their questions were answered. Obviously, a shop isn't going to put you in contact with a problem customer, but this will at least give you an idea of what to expect from them.

If your car is immobilized by an accident, you may feel like you're at the mercy of the tow truck driver and what they suggest. It's not uncommon for body shops to charge high daily storage fees for vehicles they haven't been contracted to work with, so every day you spend researching the shop will put a small dent in your wallet.

The only other option is to have your crippled ride towed to your home, then re-towed to the shop of your choosing once you've done your research. Neither is an ideal situation, but the quality of post accident body work can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars in resale value in your car.

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of taking a day or two to research a shop. If this is the case, contacting your local Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has lodged formal complaints against your potential shop isn't a bad option. Once you've done that, go with your gut feeling. If anything about the shop in question makes you uncomfortable (other than the thought of spending last month's pay) take the car elsewhere.

Looking for Winter Car Maintenance and Preparation in Great Bend? We have compiled a list of businesses and services around Great Bend that should help you with your search. We hope this page helps you find Winter Car Maintenance and Preparation in Great Bend.